SPRINGTIME FLOWERS
Spring is the season for flower lovers! Get ready for longer days, more sunshine, and trees in full bloom.
“Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire.”
–Virgil
According to Tolstoy “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” It is also the time of rebirth and flowers. Some of our favorites include (but are not limited to):
(Photography by David Katz, @dkatzo)
- Hyacinths with spikes covered in blue, purple, pink, or white flowers. With each blossom resembling a six-pronged star, these fragrant favorites have been cultivated widely since the sixteenth century.
- Snowdrops or “Galanthus” are small flowers that look like, well, drops of snow. With drooping white blossoms, snowdrops are pest-free (meaning that animals usually won’t harm or eat them) and usually do well planted in the garden rather than picked in a bouquet (as they are delicate).
- Witch Hazel is a super plant. Not only is it one of the first to bloom in the spring (leaving trees covered in yellow fringe), it is also a beauty ingredient. The leaves and bark can be made into teas and topical ointments, while witch hazel water is used as a face wash to clean pores and tighten skin.
“O, that lone flower recalled to me/My happy childhood’s hours/When bluebells seemed like fairy gifts/A prize among the flowers.”
–Anne Brontë
(Brecks.com)
- Bluebells cover forest floors and are truly breathtaking, especially when they are so dense the woods look as if blanketed in azure. “Hyacinthoides non-scripta” or English bluebells are probably the most common and look like one would expect: a blue-colored bell-shaped flower. They thrive in the shade and are at peak beauty in early spring.
- Forsythia is a plant in the olive family that was actually named after Scottish botanist William Forsyth. Known for their long woody branches and bright yellow flowers, these plants are incredibly popular as lawn decoration. A few stems in a tall vase make a perfect, sleek statement.
(David Katz photography, @dkatzo)
- Freesias, in bloom, are funnel-shaped flowers native to southern Africa. With a name derived from German botanist Friedrich Freese, these flowers are incredibly popular in wedding bouquets and are known for their long vase life.
- Lisianthus (“prairie gentian”) is known for its incredibly delicate, tissue-like petals that resemble roses. These classy flowers thrive where it’s dry and are native to the southwestern United States. When an elegant flower is needed to complete a bouquet, florists love to use a sprig of lisianthus.
From Chelsea Flowers
- Very Bunny Day: Complete with pink and white lisianthus, this bouquet is the epitome of graceful sophistication and the perfect Easter present.
- The Hunting We Will Go bouquet is the perfect blend of lisianthus, dill flowers, pale pink roses, and alstroemeria. Combined to create the bucolic fantasy of a walk in the woods, this arrangement just screams springtime.
To order the perfect arrangement from Chelsea Flowers (and to read more about the bouquets mentioned in this blog), visit the links below:
https://chelseaflowers.co.uk/product/very-bunny-day/
https://chelseaflowers.co.uk/product/hunting-we-will-go/
To learn more about the spring flowers mentioned, consult the following links:
https://www.thespruce.com/growing-and-caring-for-hyacinth-plants-1402248
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/snowdrop/information-about-snowdrops-and-when-to-plant-snowdrop-flower-bulbs.htm
https://www.gardenista.com/garden-design-101/bulbs-and-tubers/english-bluebells-hyacinthoides-non-scripta/
https://www.longfield-gardens.com/article/All-About-Freesia
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